Nearly
two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese,
so it is not surprising that the popularity of fad
diets and weight loss supplements is increasing
– along with our waistlines. Although we have
long advocated that eating less and exercising more
is the healthiest way to shed pounds, this solution
is unfortunately difficult for some.

As you know, excess body fat can be due to various
reasons including genetic predisposition, food addiction
(particularly to fast foods and processed foods),
emotional eating, and simply eating consistently
large portions. This is coupled with the fact that
we have become increasingly dependent on cars, airplanes,
computers and televisions, making us more sedentary
than ever.

We are a nation of “quick fixes”, however,
consistent habits and patience are the healthiest
solution to dropping fat. Losing just 10% of your
body weight (20 lbs. if you weigh 200 lbs.) can
have significant positive effects on your risk of
heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and many
cancers.

In traditional Chinese medicine, we believe that
a balanced system is the optimal goal. When your
body is balanced, your organs will function efficiently,
returning you to your natural body weight without
the dangers associated with fad diets and poor eating
habits. The following is an outline for our traditional
Chinese approach to weight-loss: